Episode Trivia
1800-COLLECT
details | 3 comments | suggested by Jess
When the episode 3.08 Lover’s Walk first aired in the U.S, it was followed by an advert for the phone service 1800-COLLECT, in which Sarah Michelle Gellar and David Boreanaz, as Buffy and Angel, offered a prize of a walk-on part in the show.
The winner of the competition was Jessica Johnson of Maryland, who won a three day trip for two to participate in the episode 3.20 The Prom.
April Fools
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April Fools is a dress shop in Sunnydale, owned by Mrs Finkle. It specialises in formal wear. In 3.19 Choices and 3.20 The Prom, Cordelia briefly worked in April Fools after her father lost all his money through tax evasion. In 5.06 Family, Harmony comes home to Spike’s crypt laden with bags from the shop, saying everything was on sale.
Bonita Friedericy
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Bonita Friedericy, who played the manager of the Sunnydale clothes shop April Fools, Mrs Finkle, appeared in the Buffyverse once more as Patience in the Angel episode 4.21 Peace Out. She has also been in Scrubs, Malcolm in the Middle, 3rd Rock from the Sun and Judging Amy.
Brad Kane
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Brad Kane, who played Tucker in 3.20 The Prom, was the singing voice of Aladdin in the Disney movie. He also provided the singing voice for Jonathan’s rendition of ‘Serenade in Blue’ in season four’s 4.17 Superstar. He is sometimes credited as ‘Caleb Kane’.
Brad is married to Sarah Thompson, who played Eve in Angel.
Buffy and Angel get married
details | 3 comments | suggested by Jess
Angel dreams that he and Buffy get married in 3.20 The Prom. A photo of Buffy and Angel in their wedding outfits appeared in TV Guide before the episode aired, leading to fan hysteria that the two would marry.
Buffy confuses herself
details | 14 comments | suggested by Jess
A continuing joke for Buffy throughout the show is her misunderstanding of common phrases or sayings. In 3.11 Gingerbread, she and Angel have the following conversation:
Buffy: “Like that kid in the story, the boy that stuck his finger in the duck.”
Angel: “Dike… It’s another word for dam.”
Buffy: “Oh. Okay, that story makes a lot more sense now.”
In 2.09 What’s My Line? (Part One), Buffy says:
“They had tools, flashlights, whole nine yards. What does that mean, anyway? ‘Whole nine yards’? Nine yards of what? Now it’s gonna bug me all day.”
And again in 2.09 What’s My Line? (Part One):
“They go together like chicken and… another chicken, or… two chickens, or… something, you know what I’m saying!”
In 5.05 No Place Like Home, she says to Giles:
“Yeah. You’ll be making money hand over fist” (holds her hand over her fist in a puzzled way) “…Which I guess is a good thing.”
In 7.21 End Of Days, Buffy says to Xander:
“Of course I’m not putting you out to pasture. …What does that even mean?”
In 3.17 Enemies:
“Just don’t like to rub your nose in it. Suddenly wondering where that expression comes from.”
In 3.20 The Prom:
“Right as rain, whatever that means.”
Bye, vamp
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In 3.20 The Prom, Angel announces his plan to leave Sunnydale to Buffy, which he does at the end of the season in 3.22 Graduation Day (Part Two). He starts life afresh in L.A.
Carrie
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In the episode 3.20 The Prom, Tucker Wells tried to ruin the School Prom by training hellhounds to attack people wearing tuxedoes. Buffy says she’s “Gotta stop a crazy from pulling a Carrie at the prom”. She’s referring to the book Carrie by Stephen King, in which a telekinetic girl destroys her home town after her classmates play a cruel joke on her at the Prom.
In 1.10 Nightmares, Giles, Xander and Willow find Buffy’s grave. Suddenly, Buffy’s hand comes out of the ground and grabs Giles, scaring everyone. This is a visual reference to the movie version of Carrie, in which the final sequence shows a nightmare a character has about being attacked by Carrie’s hand from a grave.
In 1.13 She, the following conversation occurs, with Cordy using ‘Carrie’ as a verb:
Cordelia: “A chick that burns? Are you okay? Did she Carrie you?”
Angel: “Did she care about me?”
Cordelia: “Did she Carrie you. Carrie? the movie? You know?”
Class Clown
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Xander was disgusted that he didn’t win the ‘Class Clown’ award at 3.20 The Prom:
“Anyone can be a prop class clown!”
The award went to Jack Mayhew.
Class Protector Award
details | 34 comments | suggested by Jess
During 3.20 The Prom, the students of Sunnydale High gave Buffy a special award, The Class Protector Award, to acknowledge the many times she had saved their lives. It was presented to her by Jonathan Levinson, who Buffy had saved from suicide in 3.18 Earshot. The award was a gold and pink parasol with tinsel and glitter on it (so not that special, really - but it’s the thought that counts). Jonathan gave the following speech:
“We’re not good friends. Most of us never found the time to get to know you, but that doesn’t mean we haven’t noticed you. We don’t talk about it much, but it’s no secret that Sunnydale High isn’t really like other high schools. A lot of weird stuff happens here. But, whenever there was a problem or something creepy happened, you seemed to show up and stop it. Most of the people here have been saved by you, or helped by you at one time or another. We’re proud to say that the Class of ‘99 has the lowest mortality rate of any graduating class in Sunnydale history. And we know at least part of that is because of you. So the senior class, offers its thanks, and gives you this. It’s from all of us, and it has written here, ‘Buffy Summers, Class Protector.’”
Buffy’s award was broken by the vampire Sunday in 4.01 The Freshman.
Cracker
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We hear Cracker’s ‘The Good Life’ when Buffy finally gets to 3.20 The Prom.
David Metz
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David Metz was a friend of Tucker Wells, never seen on screen. Tucker sent David an email gloating about his hellhound idea in 3.20 The Prom.
Electric Slide
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In 3.20 The Prom, Buffy and Angel have just woken up after a late night of slaying. Buffy is trying to interest Angel in her plans for the end of the school year:
Angel: “The prom?”
Buffy: “End of high school, rite of passage thingy. Think cotillion with spiked punch and the electric slide.”
The Electric Slide is a four wall line dance created by Ric Silver for the re-opening of Vamps Disco in New York. It was choreographed to the international hit song Electric Boogie by Marcia Griffiths. The song was originally released in 1976 and re-released in 1989 when it became a dance craze.
Fatboy Slim
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In 3.20 The Prom, we hear Fatboy Slim’s ‘Praise You’ from his album You’ve Come A Long Way, Baby.
Freak show
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In 3.20 The Prom when Angel is breaking up with Buffy he says:
“But that’s all the more reason why you should have a real relationship instead of this, this freak show.”
In 6.10 Wrecked, Buffy compares what her and Spike are doing as a freak show.
“Last night was the end of this freak show.”
Heartbreaking sewer talk
details | 1 comment | suggested by DarthRosenberg
In the Angel episode 1.08 I Will Remember You, when Buffy and Angel are tracking the Mohra demon in the sewer, they talk about their relationship, how can they never really be together. Buffy says:
“I was really jonesing for another heartbreaking sewer talk.”
She is referring back to the Buffy episode 3.20 The Prom, where Angel broke up with her in the sewer while they were tracking a demon. Buffy is also wearing a very similar outfit and hairstyle in both scenes.
Hellhound
details | 2 comments | suggested by Jess
Tucker Wells attempted to ruin 3.20 The Prom by setting hellhounds loose on the school. He trained them to hate formal wear and party music by forcing them to watch movies including Prom Night, Prom Night IV, Pump Up the Volume, Pretty in Pink, The Club, and Carrie. Giles says of hellhounds:
“It’s sort of a demon foot soldier bred during the Machash Wars. Trained solely to kill. They feed off the brains of their foes.”
The most famous hellhound is probably Cerberus, a three-headed dog in Greek mythology, who stood guard over the entrance of the Underworld.
Hellhound movies
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The movies that Tucker used to train the hell hounds Clockwork-Orange style in 3.20 The Prom were: Prom Night, Prom Night IV (what happened to II and III?), Pump Up the Volume (which Seth Green and Juliet Landau appeared in), Pretty in Pink, The Club, and Carrie. They were from a video store called Big Lou’s.
James Bond
details | 5 comments | suggested by Jess
- In the episode 2.11 Ted, Cordelia states Buffy should have “special rules” when it comes to the subject of murder to which Xander replies, “What? A license to kill?” This is the title of the 1989 James Bond movie starring Timothy Dalton.
- In 3.20 The Prom, Cordelia says that Wesley would look “way-007 in a tux”, referring to Agent 007 - James Bond.
- In 4.04 Fear, Itself, Xander dresses as James Bond:
Xander: “Bond. James Bond. Insurance, you know, in case we get turned into our costumes again. I’m going for cool Secret Agent Guy.”
Buffy: “I hate to break it to you but you’ll probably end up cool Head Waiter Guy.” - In 6.04 Flooded, the nerds can be seen playing 007 Golden-Eye on their Playstation.
- In 5.04 Out Of My Mind, Buffy says:
“You’re like my fairy godmother and Santa Claus and Q all wrapped up into one… Q from Bond not Star Trek“.
- In 6.05 Life Serial, Jonathan, Andrew and Warren discuss the different actors who have portrayed James Bond. Warren likes Sean Connery, Jonathan favours Roger Moore and Andrew’s favourite is Timothy Dalton. They mention the movies Dr. No, Moonraker, Licence to Kill and The Living Daylights.
- In 6.15 As You Were, Buffy says to Riley:
“you still carry around all that James Bond stuff.”
They later abseil down a giant dam, 007-style.
- In 7.01 Lessons, Dawn says, “Check out double-oh Xander”, referencing James Bond.
- In 7.11 Showtime, Andrew tells Dawn she has a “License to Kill”.
- In 6.20 Villains, Buffy, Xander,and Dawn are talking about what to do with Warren and Buffy says:
“That doesn’t give me a license to kill.”
- In the Angel episode 4.16 Players:
Gunn: “You tell me. I’m thinking James Bond never looked this fine.”
Gwen: “I’m thinking you’re right.”
Gunn: “Of course, I’d feel better if we were packing some of his secret weapons.”
Jittery vamp
details | 4 comments | suggested by Jess
Angel says in 3.20 The Prom that he doesn’t drink coffee. Not because he can’t - it just makes him jittery. He drinks a hell of a lot of it in the spin-off series Angel though.
Joe Howard
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Joe Howard, who played the priest in 3.20 The Prom is the father of actor Jeremy Howard, who played the ‘Dead Nerd’ in the season seven episode 7.01 Lessons. Joe has also appeared in Anger Management, Grumpy Old Men, The Mighty Ducks, Mathnet, Sabrina, the Teenage Witch, Boston Public, Frasier and Mork and Mindy.
Kool and the Gang
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Kool and the Gang’s ‘Celebrate Good Times’ is the song which makes the hellhounds run back towards 3.20 The Prom.
Marley Shelton
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Nicholas Brendon’s Prom date (in real life) was Marley Shelton who later appeared in the film Valentine with David Boreanaz. Nicholas bought Marley 100 roses, wore a tux and drove a black convertible Mustang. Marley said that he “totally did it right”.
Men’s Wear Daily
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In 3.20 The Prom, Xander says,
“He left behind his copy of Monsters Wear Daily.”
This is a pun on the magazine Men’s Wear Daily.
Mike Kimmel
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Mike Kimmel, who played the butcher in 3.20 The Prom, was a professional wrestler from New York, who competed throughout the 1980s. He was known as “Mighty” Mike Kimmel and he appeared in Louis Theroux’s Weird Weekends wrestling episode, playing “The Masked Marvel”.
Mrs. Finkle
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Mrs. Finkle was the owner of April Fools clothes shop, and Cordelia’s boss when she worked there in 3.19 Choices and 3.20 The Prom.
On my trout
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This conversation was cut from the episode 3.20 The Prom, due to length:
Giles: “Fine. You’re all suffering from a touch of spring madness, if you ask me.”
Oz: “Mine is more space madness. But I’ll feel better once I get used to the weightlessness.”
Willow (to Oz): “Promise me you’ll never be linear.”
Oz: “On my trout.”
Prince
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Buffy says in 3.20 The Prom,
“Now I’m gonna lock you in here, and then I’m gonna party like it’s…”
This is a reference to a lyric from the Prince song ‘1999′.
Right as rain
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Buffy and Fred both make comments about being puzzled by the phrase, “Right as rain”. In 3.20 The Prom:
Buffy: “Right as rain, whatever that means.”
ans in 3.02 That Vision Thing:
Fred: “I-I never understood that saying ‘right as rain.’ How is rain right? Or wrong, for that matter. Okay, I suppose if there’s a flood it’s wrong.”
Robert Frost
details | 1 comment | suggested by Jess
In 3.20 The Prom, Buffy says:
“Miles to go before we sleep.”
She is referring to Robert Frost’s poem Stopping by the Woods on a Snowy Evening. The poem is quoted again in the dream sequence between Faith and Buffy in 3.22 Graduation Day (Part Two), when Faith says:
“Miles to go.”
Sarah’s favourite episodes
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Sarah Michelle Gellar talked to Entertainment Weekly about her personal favourite Buffy episodes:
“I loved ”3.20 The Prom”. It stood for everything Buffy was about: the fact that she so badly wanted to be part of the other kids’ lives. I think ”5.16 The Body” is pretty amazing. I loved the episode in which Buffy and Faith switched. That was one of my all-time favorites because I thought Eliza was so great. And also when Buffy realizes she has to kill Angel and she kills him and he comes back. Those are my favorites.”
Snausages
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In 3.20 The Prom, Xander refers to the dog treat “snausages”. Buffy mentions them again in 7.12 Potential when she says to Andrew, “You’re like a small dog dancing for Snausages.”
Soul Purpose
details | 7 comments | suggested by Mel
In the Angel episode 5.10 Soul Purpose, Angel hallucinates that Spike is having sex with Buffy. Dialogue from the Buffy episode 3.20 The Prom was used in the scene:
Buffy: “Every time I say the word prom, you get grouchy.”
Angel: “Buffy?”
Spike: “Won’t be long now.”
Angel: “You’re taking Buffy to the Prom?”
Buffy: “Can you say jumping the gun? I kill my goldfish.”
Suicidal tendencies?
details | add a comment | suggested by HarFang
Angel has a lot of room in his mansion in Sunnydale. So WHY has he positioned his bed right in front of the entrance, which faces full east and is only covered by a curtain?
“Vampire, living in a city known for its sun - driving a convertible. - Why do you hate yourself?” (from 2.06 Guise Will Be Guise)
The many faces of the Whedonverse
details | 6 comments | suggested by Meghann
In order to describe the state or reaction of a character, there have been several variations using the word ‘face’:
2.09 What’s My Line? (Part One):
Buffy: What’s up?
Angel: Nothing.
Buffy: Only you don’t have a nothing face. You have a something face. And you don’t have to whisper. Mom’s in L.A. till Thursday. Art buying, or something.
Buffy: “Then what? What’s with the dire?”
Angel: “It’s uh, it’s nothing.”
Buffy: “No, you have ’something’ face.”
Joyce: “I’m just glad I could find it. There. Try it now. I let down the hem and loosened it a little around the hood.”
Buffy: “Oh, it feels better. Oh, no. Someone is getting nostalgic face.”
Joyce: “I’m sorry. I’m thinking about the little girl who wore that. What is it? Five? Six years ago.”
Cordy: “Wait you’ve got pensive face.”
Angel: “I’ve always got pensive face.”
Cordy: “Well, pensive-r face.”
Giles: “Buffy, I don’t want to ask you to betray any confidences, and I certainly don’t want to interfere–”
Buffy: “Uh-oh, you have ‘but-face.’” (Off his look) “You look like you’re gonna say ‘but.’”
Dawn: “Great. Now I look like a wet rat.”
Lisa: “Yeah, you know you can’t go out there looking all cry-faced. That’ll just give Kirsty more ammo.”
Dawn: “So Giles is blaming Giles, and we’re blaming us. Is anyone gonna blame Willow? (to Buffy) Oh, don’t give me shock face. I mean, will anyone around here ever start asking for help when they need it?”
The Sundays
details | 2 comments | suggested by Jess
The song which Buffy and Angel dance to at 3.20 The Prom is ‘Wild Horses’ by The Sundays. It’s from their 1992 album ‘Blind’ and is a cover version of a Rolling Stones track from the 1971 album ‘Sticky Fingers’
Tucker Wells
details | 7 comments | suggested by Jess
Tucker was the older brother of nerdy Andrew. Tucker attempted to ruin the Prom by setting hellhounds loose on the school, because he couldn’t get a date. He trained them to hate formal wear and party music by forcing them to watch Prom-related movies (3.20 The Prom). He emailed his friend David Metz before the event to say that the lemmings at Sunnydale High didn’t know what were coming to them. Andrew and Tucker are never seen together and we never found out what happened to Tucker.
Vera Wang
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Buffy’s wedding dress in the episode 3.20 The Prom was designed by Vera Wang. In real life Sarah Michelle Gellar’s wedding dress for when she got married to Freddie Prinze Jnr. was also designed by Vera Wang. Buffy’s pink prom dress was designed by Pamela Dennis.
Video player
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The video player used to train the hell hounds in 3.20 The Prom is identical to the one used by Mr. Trick in Homecoming to announce Slayerfest 98.
Zombies and hyenas
details | 2 comments | suggested by Jess
In 3.20 The Prom, the kids of Sunnydale High shout out some of the weird things which have occurred in Sunnydale: “Zombies” (from 3.02 Dead Man’s Party) and “Hyena People” (from 1.06 The Pack).
[Goof] Giles’s books
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In 3.20 The Prom, while the group is discussing the Prom in the Library, there is a close-up shot of Giles, and a small pile of books on a cart near the cage. In the longer shot there are more books on the pile.
[Goof] Tux boy
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When the hellhound bursts loudly through the window of the store in 3.20 The Prom, “Tux Boy” keeps calmly adjusting his tuxedo right up until he is attacked.
[Goof] Wesley’s napkin
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In 3.20 The Prom, Wesley is holding a red napkin when he first spots Cordelia enter the room. The camera cuts to her, and when it cuts back to Wesley, he’s holding a yellow napkin.